Liquid dispensing apparatus



May 5, 1959 1 A. cARRloL LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1956 May 5, 1959 LQ AI cARRlol. 2,885,119

l vLIQUID DISPENSING 'APPARATUS Filed May 18,` 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 www S'Sqm May 5, 1959 L. A. cARRloL 2,885,119

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 18, 1956 s Sheets-sheet 3 United States Patent O LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Louis Auguste Carriol, Aulnay-sous-Bois, France, as-

signor to S.A.T.A.M. 'Societe Anonyme Pour Tous Apparellages Mecaniques, La Courneuve, France Application May 18, 1956, Serial No. 585,817

Claims priority, application France May 28, 1955 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-72) l In certain liquid dispensing apparatus, the liquid is metered by a piston moving inside a cylinder, the capacity of which is equal to the metering unit and this cylinder is placed alternately in the iilling and draining positions under the control of a valve. In order to avoid errors in the amounts dispensed, voluntary or not, the operation of 2,885,119 Patented May 5, 1959 ICC cross section also has a U shape, which is entered by one this valve is prevented, except when the piston is at one f of its extreme positions, by means of a locking device which is controlled by a rod associated with the piston.

An object of this invention is a particular type of embodiment for such an apparatus and especially means for making the operation of the valve automatic. w In particular, there are used, for the control of the valve, two opposing springs of diiierent strengths, the weaker spring acting directly on the valve and tending to move it from the draining to the filling positions, While the stronger spring is placed under tension by the displacement of the piston rod during the last portion of the illing, and causes, at the end thereof, the movement of the valve from the filling to the draining position while tensioning the weaker spring, and the tension of the stronger spring is released at the end of the draining so as to allow the return of the valve to the following position under the inuence of the tensioned weaker spring.

Preferably:

(a) One end of the stronger spring is attached at the end of a swinging arm which is in the path of the end of the piston rod.

(b) The thrust of the rod on said arm is exerted during the second portion of the lling of the cylinder.

Byway of example only the appended drawing shows, diagrammatically, the parts of a mixing and dispensing apparatus in accordance With the present invention.

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of this apparatus.

Figures 2 and 3 are views of the locking device of the valve controlling the output of this apparatus.

y Figures 4 to 7 show four positions of the locking device represented in Figures l and 2.

The apparatus represented comprises a first metering cylinder 1, inside which a piston 2, a so-called first piston can move. The volume of the cylinder is equal, for instance, to one litre. A pump 3 sucks in gasoline stored in a tank, not shown, and forces it into a separator 4 then, through a conduit 33, under the control of a three way cock 5 into the cylinder 1, pushing back the piston 2 until it comes against a stop 34. This piston 2 carries a rack 6 which gears with a toothed pinion 7, mounted free on a shaft 7a, and going through a rotation of 360 for a complete run of the rack 6. A cam 35, associated with the pinion 7, is formed with a notch into which a pawl 8 mounted on an arm 9a, can engage. Arm 9a is mounted 'free on the shaft 7a and carrying a roller 9 in such a manner that the pinion 7 drives the arm 9a in one direction only through the cam 35 and pawl 8. The assembly `7, 8, 9, 9a constitutes a free wheel crank arm driven by 'the rack 6. On the other hand, the roller 9 is guided in the U-shaped end 11a of a lever 11. The other end 11b of this lever 11 is in the shape of a circular are, and its of the rollers 12, the position of which is adjustable and which acts as a fulcrum for the pivoting of the lever 11- as will be seen later. The rotation of the roller 9 thus causes the lever 11 to swing, substantially about the roller 12. The rocking motion of the lever 11 thus obtained, displaces a piston 13, a so-called second piston, moving inside a cylinder 36, a socalled second cylinder. It should be noted that the piston 2 controls positively one reciprocation of the piston 13 during its downwards run, and does not drive anything during its upward motion owing to the presence of the'free wheel mechanism 7, 8, 9, 9a. The upper portion of the cylinder 36 is in communication, on the one hand, through a conduit 18 with the portion 33a of the conduit 33 located downstream of the valve, or valve means 5 under the control of a forcing valve 17, and on the other hand with one of the oil tanks 16 or 31, under the control of a suction valve 14 and of a two way cock 15. The oil from the tank 16V or 31, which is in communication with the cylinder 36 is thus sucked into the latter when the piston 13 moves down and forced out in the conduits 18 and 33a by the piston when the same moves up. v A rst mixing of the oil and gasoline thus takes place in the conduit or passage 33a, before the arrival into the metering cylinder 1. When the piston 2 strikes the stop 34, the cylinder 1 therefore contains one litre of an oil and gasoline mixture. Duringr this downward motion the piston 2 compresses a spring 19. When the cock 5 has been turned in the direction of the arrow j, and the operation of the pump 3 has been stopped, the cylinder 1 is in communication with a container 20, a so-called predispensing container, the piston 2 moves up under the action of the spring 19 and forces the litre of mixture into the container 20 through a thin slot 38 which again stirs thel mixture. The mixture flows from the container 20 through a connection 21 Ainto a flexible hose 22, the free end of which has previously been introduced into the tank of a motorcycle, not shown. A flap valve 23 allows air Ito pass into the container 20 and a conduit 37 connects the air outlet of the separator with the upper portion of the container 20. It is quite obvious that the amplitude of displacement of the piston 13 and consequently the amount of oil to be injected into one litre of the mixture, is a function of the position of the roller 12 since the amplitude of the mo-` tion of the roller 9 is constant. The roller 12 is mounted on a lever 24 rotating about an axle 25 and which can be controlled from outside. The portion 11b of the lever 11 has the shape of a circular arc, the center of which is located, in the position of the lever 11 shown inFig. l, substantially at the center line of the axle 25. The lever 24, when it comes out of the groove 11b of the lever 11 is replaced by a lever 26 keyed on the same axle 25 and having the same length. When the roller 12 of the lever 26 engages the groove 11b for replacing the lever 24, a side catch 27a of a cam 27 mounted on the shaft 25 and associated with these levers 24 and 26 rotates the pinion through a certain angle. The rotation of this pinion 28 causes the rotation of the cock 15 through a connecting rod 28a, associated with the pinion 28 and a rod 29 and consequently the cylinder 36 is no longer in communication with the tank 16, but with the tank 31. If the two tanks contain oils of different grades, the possibility is thus given of obaining mixtures of gasoline with one or the other of the grades of oil. It should be noted that during the' whole time when one of the levers 24 or 26 is engaged inthe grooves 11b, the lever 29 remains motionless since the groove 11b has the shape of a circular arc, thecenter of which is substantially on the axle 25. Similarly, the Arotation of the shaft 25 for adjusting the positionof the roller 12 has no action on the lever 11 and ycousequeutly 3 on the piston 13 which isi at the upper dead center. This prevents a mixing of oils of dierent grades,` the conduit 18 being practically as narrow as possible.

`For preventing errors in the metering, the rotation of the cock should beI prevented during the filling or drain ingfof lhekmetering cylinder 1 and the rotation of thel cock 5 should beallowed only when the piston 2 is atone` of its extreme positions.

Gnaslsnft parallel witli the rotation axle for the cock` 5 two camel 40 `anti 50 are keyed.` An arm 50c of` the latter ii connected byv means of a powerful spring or nist spring means 62 to the end of t a rocking arm 64 about ain axle` 65` and being located in the path? ofthe rack 6; The arm 50c` isalso connected through a 63 with an` arm 60 associated with the` body of the cock 5 and connected with one end of a spring 6l,` or second` spring means, less powerful than the springt spring 61 is attached, at its other end,l to a midpoint s l Y The cam 401 iscircular, and comprises a notch bump 40b. On the other hand, on a shaft n the: one which carries the cams40 and lftwotldvers 41 and `4? are mounted for free turning movement. The end 41a of arm 41` cooperates with the rack 6 and enters a notch 6a in the low position of the pistomas may be seenin Figure 2. The arm41b of this lever 4l can `come `on the path of the bump 40b only Whentbe' 41a is in the notch 6a. The arm 43d of the loven 443" Venter the notch 40d, while the other arm maybe pushed by a stud 44 carried by the arm 41b. A spring` 45 constantly tends to move the arms 41h and 43a closer together. Another spring 46 attached to the 4151?@ engage the hook Sbalwd @d d inw ThckkcndvcamS, like the cam 40 is' circularxnd thehdis'placerr'ients'f which' are u t' stopsw57 58. On Ythe other hand, `ll and 53 are mounted free on thshaft 42; jlncooperates with the rack 6 and can move thev path ofthe end 6b of the rack 6 as may be seen ,'lehe Mother arm 51b of this lever A5l can thepath of the bump 50b only when Vthe arm 5 Vpositionrepresented in Figure 3. The arm 55a of the lever 53 can enter the notch 50a,` while the other arm 53h bepushedby a stud 54 carried by the itin il `55` constantly tends to move thearms 515 alitllttcloser to each other. `Another spring 56 lvttncheklzto `arm `5115` tends to push the hook shaped ftl:ie.rnck6.` upper position'of the piston 2, thcarm theend 6b of the rack 6 and prevents motion `of the rack 6 and consequently of Onthe other` hand the arm 53a s held out ""notch by the stop s4 (Figure s), the end` 41a if 'ofthe leirer strikesu'nder the action of the spring 46 edge "6cvo`f the rack 6 and the arm 43a istrikes circular portion of the cam 40.` Nothing, f 1 "opposes the rotation of the shaft carrying the 3Q and consequently the spring `61 which previttly beentensioned as described above brings 5 `the draining position back to the lling l ja position `which is materialized by the contact itleatniobwlthjthe stop 57. l

Duetto thisrotation of the cams 40 and S0 the bump pushes the arm Slb and causes the arm 51a to be the end 6b of the rack 6, allowing the latter tti` move zdown. and the arm 43a falls into the notch 40a, M

M Scannot be brought back in the direction ljie artowf. The cock 5 cannot be operated either in ofre :arrow fr, as the stop 57V prevents any `levertlc in that direction. The 'cock 5 is `but the rack 6 is released. The filling dfthe" 1 then takes place. l

" *A litticxbfore the piston` 2 strikies -the stop 34,'ft`h'c sima sodass a bump sob; The amsn a* 4i end 6b of the rack 6 comes in contact with the arm 64 and thus tensions the spring'62 (Figure 6).

When the piston 2 strikes the stop 34, the notch 6a takes up a position opposite the end 41a of arm 41. The end 41a enters this notch 6a under the action of the spring 46. Due to this pivoting of the lever 41, the stop 44 tips the lever 43 clockwise. The arm 43a, therefore, is released from the notch 40a. Nothing prevents any more the rotation of the cock 5 in the direction of the arrow f. The spring 62, tensioned as indicated above, rocks the lever 50c through 90 in the direction of the arrow f, until it" strikes' the stop 58. This displacement of the arm 50c causes a tensioning of the spring 61 through the connecting rod 63. In addition, the cock 5 is brought to a position which places the cylinder 1 in communication with thecontainer 20. Due to that rotation, the bump 40b pushes back the arm 41b and the end 41a is withdrawn from the notch 6a. The rack 6 is thus released. The cylinder 1 can thus be drained into the tank 20'but at thesame time the arm 53a enters the notch 50a under the action of the spring 55,which prevents any rotation of the lever in the direction of the arrow f1, which in turn prevents the spring 61` from losing its tension.

As soon as the draining has started, the notch 6a is no longer,` facing the end 41a of arm 41 and the latter rests on the edge of the rack 6.- On the other hand, it is impossible to rotate the cams 40 and 50 and conseq'ucntly the cock 5 due to the penetration of the arm 53a into the notch 50a and due to the striking of the control arm 50c against the stop 58.

When the draining has been completed, the cycle is repeated.

Thus the' cock 5 can be operated only when the piston 2\is' at its extreme positions.

It should also be pointed ont that a dial 25a, associated with thel shaft 25 andcontrolled by a' knob 25h, indicates which oneof the levers'124 or '26 is in engagement with 'the portion 111il of the lever 11 and the percentage of oil mixedt the gasoline. In addition, a disc 15a, asso'- ciated with the cock 15 makes it possible to indicate out-V side which grade of oil has been added to the gasoline.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for delivering a predetermined volume of fluid, in combination, a metering cylinder formed in the region of one end thereof with a passage; a piston mounted in said cylinder for sliding movement between a first end position` in which said piston is at said `one end of said cylinder and a second end position inv `which said piston is at the other end of said cylinder; means `tending to move said piston from said second to said first position thereof; rst conduit means communieating with said passage for feeding fluid under pressure into said cylinder to move thereby said piston from said first to said second end position thereof; second conduit means communicating with said first conduit means for discharging fluid from s'aid cylinder; valve means located at the junction of said first and `second conduit means andmovable between` a filling position in which said valve` means connects Asaid first conduit means with said passage so that duid under pressure `may be fed into the cylinder whereby said piston moves from said first to said second end position thereof and a discharge position in which said valve means connect said `passage with said second conduit means so` that fluid in said cylinder maybe discharged therefrom by the action of said means moving said piston from the second to the first end position thereof; `valve operating means operatively connected to said valve means for moving said valve means between said fillingposition and said discharge position thereof and comprising first spring means tending to `move said valve means` from said filling position to said discharge position and second spring means tending tore'turn said valve means from said discharge position tosaid filling position thereof, said first spring means beingstronger than said second spring means and being tensioned asA said pistonV approaches said second end position lthereof and the tension of first spring means being released as said `piston moves from said second end position to said first end position thereof, said second spring means being tensioned when said first spring means move said valve means from said filling position to said discharge position thereof; and locking means cooperating with said valve moving means for preventing movement of said valve moving means during movement of said piston between said end positions thereof and for releasing said valve moving means in either of the two end positions of said piston so that when said piston reaches its second end position, said valve moving means will move said valve means under the action of the tensioned rst spring means from the filling position to the discharge position thereof While said second spring means is tensioned and so that when the piston reaches the first end position thereof said valve means will be moved by the second spring means of said valve moving means from the discharge position to the filling position thereof.

2.`In an apparatus for delivering a predetermined volume of fiuid, in combination, a metering cylinder formed in the region of one end thereof with a passage; a piston mounted in said cylinder for sliding movement between a first end position in which said piston is at said one end of said cylinder and a second end position in which said piston is at the other end of said cylinder; means tending to move said piston from said second to said first position thereof; a member fixedly attached to said position for movement therewith; first conduit means communicating with said passage for feeding fiuid under pressure into said cylinder to move thereby said piston from said first to said second end position thereof; second conduit means communicating with said first conduit means for discharging fiuid from said cylinder; valve means located at the junction of said first and second conduit means and movable between a filling position in which said valve means connects said first conduit means with said passage so that fluid under pressure may be fed into the cylinder whereby said piston moves from said first to said second end position thereof and a discharge position in which said valve means connect said passage with said second conduit means so that fiuid in said cylinder may be discharged therefrom by the action of said means moving said piston from the second to the first end position thereof; valve operating means operatively connected to said valve means for moving said valve means between said filling position and said discharge position thereof and comprising first spring means tending to move said valve means from said filling position to said discharge position and second spring means tending to return said valve means from said discharge position to said filling position thereof, said first spring means being stronger than said second spring means, said second spring means being tensioned when said first spring means move said valve means from said filling position to said discharge position thereof; a rocking arm located in the path of said member, said rocking arm being mounted for turning movement about one end thereof and being connected at the other end thereof to said first spring means and said member acting on said rocking arm intermediate the ends thereof to turn the rocking arm as said piston approaches said second end position thereof so that said first spring means being tensioned when said piston approaches said second end position thereof and the tension of said first spring means being released as said piston moves from said second end position to said first end position thereof; and locking means cooperating with said valve moving means for preventing movement of said valve moving means during movement of said piston between said end positions thereof and for releasing said valve moving means in either of the two end positions of said piston so that when said piston reaches its second end position, said 6 valve moving means will move saidi valve means under the action of the tensioned first spring means from the filling position to the `discharge position thereof while said second spring means is tensioned and so that when the piston reaches the first end position thereof saidl valve means will be moved by the second spring means of said valve moving means from the discharge position to the filling position thereof,

3. In an apparatus for delivering a predetermined volume of fiuid, in combination, a metering cylinderv formed in the region of one end thereof with a passage; a piston mounted in said cylinder for sliding movement between a first end position in which said piston is. at said one end of said cylinder anda second end position in which said piston is at the other end o f'said cylinder; means tending to move said piston from said second to said first position thereof; a piston rod fixedly` connected to said piston and projecting therefrom through the otherl end of said cylinder outwardly thereof; first conduit means communicating with said passage for feeding fiuidv under pressure into said cylinder to move thereby said piston from said first to said second end position thereof; second conduit means communicating with said first conduit means for discharging fluid from said cylinder; Valve means located at the junction of said first and 'second conduit means and movable between a filling position in which said valve means connects said first conduit means with said passage so that fiuid under pressure may be fed into the cylinder whereby said piston moves from said first to said second end position thereof and a discharge position in which said valve means` connect said passage with said second conduit means so ,vthat'uid in` s-aid cylinder may be discharged therefrom by the action of said means moving said piston from the second to the first end position thereof; valve operating means operatively connected to said valve means for moving said valve means between said filling position and said discharge position thereof and comprising first spring means tending to move said valve means from said filling position to said discharge position and second spring means tending to return said valve means from said discharge position to said filling position thereof, said first spring means being stronger than said second spring means, said second spring means being tensioned when said first spring means move said valve means from said filling position to said discharge position thereof; a rocking arm located in the path of said piston rod, said rocking arm being mounted for turning movement about one end thereof and being connected at the other end thereof to said first spring means and the free end of said piston rod contacting said rocking arm intermediate the ends thereof as said piston approaches said second end position thereof so that said first spring means being tensioned when sai-d piston approaches said second end position thereof and the tension of said first spring means being released as said piston moves from said second end position to said first end position thereof; and locking means cooperating with said valve moving means for preventing movement of said valve moving means during movement of said piston between said end positions thereof and for releasing said valve moving means in either of the two end positions of said piston so that when said piston reaches its second end position, said valve moving means will move said valve means under the action of the tensioned first spring means from the filling position to the discharge position thereof while said second spring means is tensioned and so that when the piston reaches the first end position thereof said valve means will be moved by the second spring means of said valve moving means from the discharge position to the filling position thereof.

4. In an apparatus for delivering a predetermined volume of fiuid, in combination, a metering cylinder formed in the region of one end thereof with a passage; a piston mounted in said cylinder for sliding movement `end position in: which said piston is `at of saidcylinder anda second end position wld `piston is at theother end of saidcylinder;

` tomovesaid pistlonfrorn` said second to said fmt: position thereofaa member ixedly attached to slid piston for` movement therewith; `first conduit means with saidpassagesfor feedinguid under presst'tre into said cylinder to move thereby said piston from said trstto said` second end position thereof; second iii conduit meanscommunicating with `said first conduit to means fori uidtrorn said cylinder;A valve means the iunction of said first and second eondilit andlmovable between a filling position in slidttalve means connects said` first conduit means wtlisnld passage so fedinto the cylinder whereby said piston moves from slid tstnto said second end position thereof and a disposition` in which sald valve means connect said pdssageywith: saidsecond conduitmeans so that fluid in cylinderimoy be` discharged therefrom by the action 20l moving` said piston `from the `second to position thereof; valve operating means operatively/,connected to said valve means for movingy slid `vtliirelrntiirnit between said filling position and said discharge positionl thereof` and comprising first spring 25 means tending tomoversaid valve means from said filling; to seid discharge position :and `second spring means tendingto return said valve means from nitbposition tossid filling position thereof, 30

said llx'st` spring means `being stronger than said second spring means, said second spring means being tensioned` when said first springtmeans move said valve means 'from t fluid under pressure may be l5 said iillingposition `to saidldischa'rge position thereof; a rocking arm located inthe path of saidmember, seid rocking arm being mounted-for turning movement about oneend thereof and` being connected at the other end thereofy to said first means and said member acting on said rockingarni intermediate the ends thereof" to turn therocking arm only during the lastlpart of'said movement of said piston from said first to said second end position thereof so that said first spring means beingtensioned when said piston approaches saidl second; end position thereof and the tension ofsaid first spring means beingreleased as said piston moves from said second end position` tosaid rst endwposition.` thereof; and locking meanscooperating `with said valve moving means for preventing movement of said valve moving means during movement of said piston between said end posi tions thereof and for `releasing said valve moving means in either ofthe two end positions of said piston so that when said piston reaches` its second end position, said valve moving means will move said valve means under` the action of the tensionecl` first spring means frornwtbeA filling position to the discharge position thereof while said secondspring means is tensioned` and so `that when the piston reaches the first endposition thereof` said valve means will be movedI by the second spring means of saidrvalve moving means from the discharge position to the` filling position thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

